JBL PartyBox 520 Speaker Review
When a speaker rolls up promising both a light show and wall-shaking sound, expectations naturally spike. The JBL PartyBox 520 doesn’t just aim to fill a room—it’s designed to command the entire party, indoors or out. So let’s see what it can do.
Design
The JBL PartyBox 520 isn’t shy, with a whizzing colourful array of LEDs to showcase multiple lighting effects to complement the rhythm of the tunes playing. Creating this lighting is behind the speaker grille sitting in a figure-of-eight array, complemented by LED spotlights along the outer edges and light bars at the top and bottom. The overall shape is a tall, rectangular tower with slightly rounded edges, giving it a modern, bold presence without feeling too blocky.
It’s built like a rock and weighs like one too, coming in at 26kg. It’s just about manageable to carry up steps by yourself with the handle, but thankfully it’s a doddle to transport on flat surfaces like our decking boards outdoors, because its handle is telescopic and it has rubberised wheels.
If you’re thinking of having this around a pool, then no need to stress, it’s IPX4 rated, meaning it’s splashproof. It’s also free of any black glossy plastics that would attract outdoor pollen; in fact, the entire body is easy to wipe clean.
Controls
All the controls are located up top: the power button, a volume knob with a pause/play button in the centre, a lighting control knob to cycle through psychedelic themes, and microphone controls for karaoke. Around the back, you’ll also find XLR inputs for connecting external gear.
The JBL app acts as a wireless controller and unlocks even more functionality. Here, you can fine-tune the lighting, adjust between three EQ presets—Movies, Vocals, and JBL Signature—and take bass further with options for deep or punchy. The app also lets you create a stereo pair for a bigger, more immersive soundstage. Curiously, you can also emit a few quirky voice prompts from a library; there are also three programmed into physical buttons on top; it all adds a bit of personality to the experience.
Battery & Charging
The JBL PartyBox 520 packs a hefty battery, and from our usage, the figure of around 18 hours of playback feels accurate—enough to power a full day or night of music. Charging is straightforward via the included AC adapter, though topping up from empty does take a few hours. For outdoor gatherings, the long battery life means you can keep the party going without hunting for a socket.
Performance
JBL have given the PartyBox 520 speaker enough volume to be utterly obnoxious if you want, but it also exhibits impressive clarity. This isn’t a racket of bass-heavy, loud, and scratchy audio—it’s actually a well-tuned, fun, and exciting sound profile. The mid-range is surprisingly delicate, so your music library comes through lyrically word for word. That’s just as well, especially when using the karaoke mode or connecting a DJ console via XLR. Bass can get nice and aggressive with the boost button enabled—you can feel it in your body with tracks like ‘Classy Lady’ by SKYLAR. Yet the sound remains sharp and engaging, capturing the little details such as guitar string reverberations against wood or even the subtle touch of lips against a mic.
Instrumental separation is a top-to-bottom affair here; there’s not really a soundstage, but rather one enormous audio image. You can link additional PartyBoxes or other compatible JBL speakers wirelessly using the AuraCast feature. Even so, the sound remains fairly harmonious, with intricate sections coming through clearly. Playing ‘The Audience Is Listening Theme Song’ by Cut Chemist revealed decent separation between elements like vocals, drum beats, and the occasional electric guitar. Even busier pop tracks are well composed and don’t struggle to project—we had it cranked to 10, ran 40 metres away, and the output was still just as visceral. The 520 has the sheer oomph to reach any level needed to be heard around the pool, at BBQs, and outdoor parties.
AI Sound Boost is activated by pressing the metronome-style ‘A’ symbol on the top control panel. In simple terms, an internal chip analyses your playback and tweaks the driver outputs to reduce distortion while adding a more acoustical, airy presence. We liked it so much we left it enabled throughout our testing. With artists like Jack Johnson, the result takes on outdoor live-concert qualities, ideal for those who love acoustic genres.
Verdict
Rugged, splash-proof, and easy to transport, the PartyBox 520 is built to energise any gathering even in sizeable large outdoor spaces, from pool parties to backyard BBQs. It’s a lot of fun, with a kaleidoscopic light show and XLR support for accessories like DJ consoles and microphones. The sound is enjoyable to listen to, it’s not scrunched up and instead is impressively clear, combining punchy bass with delicate midranges that let lyrics shine. Battery life is strong enough to power an entire day or night of music, easily filling.
